Govt and opposition look happy despite referendum 'disputes'

Turkey's political leaders from the government and the main opposition party met at the Constitutional Court's ceremony, giving happy and sincere poses for the cameras despite the 'disputes' over the fraudulent referendum results

Political representatives from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition party leaders met for the first time following Turkey’s controversial referendum that was held on April 16 amid electoral frauds.

Many political leaders and officials came together on April 25 for the 55th establishment anniversary ceremony of the Turkish Constitutional Court.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, chair of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) shook hands at the ceremony. Kılıçdaroğlu and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım sat together during the ceremony, giving sincere poses for the cameras.

As Turkey’s April 16 referendum came with a narrow margin for the ‘yes’ campaign in favour of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AKP party, main opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu appealed to Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council (YSK), which made controversial decisions during vote counting, to annul the referendum because of electoral frauds. Yet both the YSK and the Council of State, the nation’s highest administrative court, rejected the appeals for the annulment of the referendum.

However, President Erdoğan, government officials and opposition leaders came together at the Constitutional Court ceremony, despite debates over the fraudulent referendum continue in Turkey.